Course Goals:
Students study the methods employed in plant protection and pest management, with emphasis on problems caused by pests, their correct identification, losses attributable to these pests, infestation levels, and economic thresholds. Possible solutions to these problems, their legal aspects, and potential side effects are assessed. We consider past, present, and promising new practices for pest management for a particular situation. The control of insects, pathogens, weeds, nematodes, and other pests are considered; and, where applicable, interactions are discussed. Integration of available pest management practices into programs are emphasized. Students will be introduced to recommendation and pesticide databases available through the UC IPM World Wide Web home page. Additionally, various legal aspects of pest control recommendations and pesticide use will be discussed in the fall quarter. The two quarters permit follow-up visits and discussions emphasizing the fall and spring management decisions.

Prerequisites: Graduate or senior standing. Prerequisites: Entomology 110, Plant Pathology 176, and Nematology 100. The latter course may be taken concurrently.

Topics:

Visits and discussions to cover the types to problems outlined in "COURSE GOALS" are arranged for the following crop and/or non-crop situations. The localities where trips are taken are indicated in parentheses.

Field crops: including alfalfa, beans, cereals, corn and sorghum, cotton, sugar beets (central valley, including Fresno/Visalia area in addition to Davis and vicinity).
Vegetable crops: including tomatoes, cole crops, lettuce, artichokes, melons, etc. (central valley, Salinas valley, and other coast valleys).
Orchard crops: including stone and pome fruits, grapes, can berries (central valley, Napa valley)
Turf and ornamentals: (Sacramento valley and coast valleys)
Rangeland and forest: (coast range and Sierra Nevada)
Non-cropped land and aquatic situations: (all regions)
These are supplemented with discussion visits to represent the following groups or agencies: Pest control advisors, pesticide applicators, California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Pesticide Regulation, State Department of Food and Agriculture, Agricultural Commissioner's Office and agricultural management consultants.